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Devereaux's Dime Store #4
Dying for a Cupcake
When Devereaux “Dev” Sinclair hosts a cupcake contest at her five-and-dime store, she discovers that someone is just dying to win...
Kizzy Cutler finds it so delicious to be back in her hometown of Shadow Bend, Missouri, that she seems to have forgotten why she fled twenty years ago. For now, she’s excited to kick off her new line of cupcakes with a competition, which Dev has agreed to host in her shop. But before the first yummy cupcake is even baked, Kizzy's assistant Fallon dies from a mysterious ailment.
While the medical examiner attempts to discover what killed Fallon, Kizzy declares that the show must go on. However after Kizzy escapes several near misses, Dev is convinced that someone in Shadow Bend has it in for the Cupcake Queen. Is the secret from her past so dark someone still wants to kill her for it?
With a list of not-so-sweet suspects, Dev’s in a race against the timer to solve the murder before someone else gets iced…
Includes a sneak peak of the next Scumble River Mystery!
Kizzy Cutler finds it so delicious to be back in her hometown of Shadow Bend, Missouri, that she seems to have forgotten why she fled twenty years ago. For now, she’s excited to kick off her new line of cupcakes with a competition, which Dev has agreed to host in her shop. But before the first yummy cupcake is even baked, Kizzy's assistant Fallon dies from a mysterious ailment.
While the medical examiner attempts to discover what killed Fallon, Kizzy declares that the show must go on. However after Kizzy escapes several near misses, Dev is convinced that someone in Shadow Bend has it in for the Cupcake Queen. Is the secret from her past so dark someone still wants to kill her for it?
With a list of not-so-sweet suspects, Dev’s in a race against the timer to solve the murder before someone else gets iced…
Includes a sneak peak of the next Scumble River Mystery!
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 3, 2015
54 people are currently reading
1027 people want to read
About the author
Denise Swanson
69 books1,128 followersDenise Swanson lives in rural Illinois with her husband, classical composer David Stybr.
After 22 years as a practicing school psychologist, she's happiest sitting in her scree porch reading. However, when the weather turns too cold, she's willing to leave the Midwest to cruise the sunny Caribbean.
Denise is an animal lover, but her home is currently furless, since her kitty of 20 years passed away in August of 2016. Instead, she enjoys watching the wildlife out her office window.
After 22 years as a practicing school psychologist, she's happiest sitting in her scree porch reading. However, when the weather turns too cold, she's willing to leave the Midwest to cruise the sunny Caribbean.
Denise is an animal lover, but her home is currently furless, since her kitty of 20 years passed away in August of 2016. Instead, she enjoys watching the wildlife out her office window.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
January 16, 2016
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Denise reeled me right in, she has been posted cupcakes on her Facebook page for weeks and had me drooling to read this book.
In this 4th installment to this fun series Shadow Bend welcomes former resident, now the Cupcake Queen, Kizzy Cutler, and a weekend of fun as a contest is held to find her newest cupcake creation. The 10 contestants arrive along with Kizzy and her entourage. But before the first cupcake is baked Kizzy’s assistant dies and it doesn’t appear to be from natural causes.
As the investigation gets underway Kizzy announces the weekend festivities will continue. That makes someone very unhappy as Kizzy has several dramatic experiences. Dev starts to think the assistant wasn’t the one that was suppose to die. She believes someone is targeting Kizzy and it may have to do with something that happened in Shadow Bend more than 20 years ago. The makes for one sweet mystery!
Dev runs the local five and dime and her father recently released from prison helps her out at the store. This time the men Dev is dating are both out of town. Dr. Noah is volunteering overseas for a couple of weeks and Deputy U.S. Marshall Jake is off investigating a case that involves his ex-wife. Enter the new fire chief with a pizza and Dev romantic life gets a lit more complicated.
What a fun read! We have the characters we already love, a new one to hate, plus a hunky new one that I know if going to cause havoc. Kizzy was a piece of work in high school, today we call them bullies. No wonder someone wants her gone.
The mystery was one that keeps us guessing and I can’t tell you more without ruining the story but it is really good. Denise Swanson is a pro at blending mystery and romance with the perfect amount of humor. I loved this story!
This is a fantastic addition to this entertaining series. The author sets up the next story too whetting our appetite for next year.
August 22, 2015
"Dev". Deveraux. Sinclair runs the dime store in Shadow Bend, Missouri and has agreed to host a cupcake competition in her store. Kizzy Cutler is the "cupcake queen" and will be running the competiton. However, before the event even starts, Kizzy's assistant dies from a mysterious illness. Poisoned?
Kizzy determines that the show must go on even after the death. Kizzy herself has several near misses of someone trying to do her in. Dev believes that someone in Shadow Bend has it in for Kizzy. But who? What secrets from her past are coming back to haunt Kizzy?
Dev works feverishly to figure out who has done this.
I won this book through the GoodReads First Reads Giveaway. I know you will enjoy this book as much as I did.
Kizzy determines that the show must go on even after the death. Kizzy herself has several near misses of someone trying to do her in. Dev believes that someone in Shadow Bend has it in for Kizzy. But who? What secrets from her past are coming back to haunt Kizzy?
Dev works feverishly to figure out who has done this.
I won this book through the GoodReads First Reads Giveaway. I know you will enjoy this book as much as I did.
June 2, 2019
I saw this book in my local library and the book's cover immediately attracted me. I took a chance on it. The murder plot was very good, and I enjoyed going from suspect to suspect to determine the murderer. On the downside, the characters were not outstanding, but they were at least okay. Perhaps I would think differently if I had read books 1-3 of this series.
August 6, 2022
Lost phone so late review .. nothing memorable here.
Not the series for me.
Not the series for me.
July 30, 2024
Oops. It wasn't until I went to review this one that I realized I'd not read number three. Oh well. I picked up 4-6 on a recent McKay's trip. I like the author's Scumble River series and I read the first two of this series ages ago, but hadn't come across any more of them. They were fine. Since I found three more I picked them up. This was..okay. The constant brand name dropping seemed excessive. And am I remembering correctly that this is supposed to be a small town? How do they have a high end consignment shop and a night club? And I'm not sure I'd want to buy high end clothes from a store with "Used" in the title. And when I think of a dime store, it brings to mind more of a Cracker Barrell type place, but Dev seemed to portray it as nicer than that? 🤷♀️
Anyway, the mystery was fine. I already own the next two, so I'll probably give them a go, but I didn't have them, I probably wouldn't bother.
Anyway, the mystery was fine. I already own the next two, so I'll probably give them a go, but I didn't have them, I probably wouldn't bother.
May 28, 2021
Someone's trying hard to poison Kizzy Cutler. The problem is, when they try, it isn't Kizzy who dies. Kizzy was a resident of Shadow Bend, Missouri years ago when she was one of the popular mean girls in high school. After she left, she made a name for herself as a cupcake baker, and she has come home as a kind of tip of the hat to the old home town to host a national cupcake bakeoff. Devereaux Sinclair offers her upstairs space in the building of her dime store. Before the contest begins, Kizzy's assistant dies suspiciously and someone nearly kills Kizzy by attempting to run her down in a car.
I've enjoyed this series, but I find the Scumble River series the author writes more compelling.
I've enjoyed this series, but I find the Scumble River series the author writes more compelling.
May 13, 2018
I can’t tell you how much I love this series. I wish I was Dev. The author wrote the characters so well. In this book, it kept you guessing until the end. You would not guess the killer until the very end. Again, amazing and I’m on to the next book in this series today.
January 13, 2021
I do enjoy this series. A cupcake competition is always fun although we saw more of the other events than actual cupcakes. While I didn't guess the culprit I did feel that it would be that kind of a resolution. The real page turner of this book was Dev's love life life and the triangle trying to become a square. I may also have to change which team I am on.
July 6, 2017
Probably my favorite of the Dime Store cozy mysteries so far. A really well done mystery with fun characters and a good resolution. I felt like I learned something about some of the characters, and Swanson introduced a few new characters that have potential. Plus, the ending sets up plenty additional conflict to come.
I tend to rate these a bit higher, perhaps, because of Swanson's Scumble River series, which is set basically in my home town. But this series has proven with this one that it can stand on its own and portray characters that are every bit as interesting as any cozy characters out there, in my opinion.
I tend to rate these a bit higher, perhaps, because of Swanson's Scumble River series, which is set basically in my home town. But this series has proven with this one that it can stand on its own and portray characters that are every bit as interesting as any cozy characters out there, in my opinion.
March 24, 2015
Denise Swanson is a pro when it comes to cozy mysteries. Her, latest book, Dying for a cupcake is the fourth book in her Devereaux's Dime Story Mystery series with features a strong female lead character that is looking for more than your average clue. Dev Sinclair has a keen eye when it comes to solving crime and in this latest installment of the series, it's all in the cupcakes. With a mouthwatering theme and a little bit of murder, this a great addition to the series!
Swanson never disappoints when it comes to a good mystery, but in this case readers get that and a whole lot more. Not only is there mystery and suspense in Dying for a Cupcake but readers get the added bonus of a little romance and a whole lot of amazing cupcakes. Yummy, yummy! I liked the premise of the story and since my daughter wants to own and operate her own bakery one day, this one hit a sweet spot for me. Swanson set up the novel carefully and allowed the theme to permeate the book. A great idea for a cozy.
Dev is once again, a very clever heroine. I loved watching her get down to the business of investigating. She looks at all the possibilities and draws so much from those around her and clues that maybe most sleuths would never find. I always feel with her that readers are getting a much different perspective than in most cozy heroines. Much like Swanson writing, Dev is unique and surprising. I liked the touch of romance in her life this time and can't wait to see where that goes.
Kizzy is back in town but apparently not everybody is glad to see her. I liked the whole bad girl returns to town after a long hiatus, theme Swanson has going on. Readers are instantly trying to figure out what she did. Why she left. And most importantly, why she came back? There were questions on top of questions but Swanson did a good job of keeping her writing on point. The suspects start to mount and things really get out of hand, but I loved every minute of the chaos.
Bottom Line:
If you haven't tried Denise Swanson's writing, what in the world are you waiting for? Swanson's unique style and flippant sense of humor give this book and the others in the series, a refreshing and lightness that isn't often found in the genre. I like a little romance with my mysteries and I got that too, with this one. There's a lot to like for many different kinds of readers. Swanson does a great job with her latest offering!
Swanson never disappoints when it comes to a good mystery, but in this case readers get that and a whole lot more. Not only is there mystery and suspense in Dying for a Cupcake but readers get the added bonus of a little romance and a whole lot of amazing cupcakes. Yummy, yummy! I liked the premise of the story and since my daughter wants to own and operate her own bakery one day, this one hit a sweet spot for me. Swanson set up the novel carefully and allowed the theme to permeate the book. A great idea for a cozy.
Dev is once again, a very clever heroine. I loved watching her get down to the business of investigating. She looks at all the possibilities and draws so much from those around her and clues that maybe most sleuths would never find. I always feel with her that readers are getting a much different perspective than in most cozy heroines. Much like Swanson writing, Dev is unique and surprising. I liked the touch of romance in her life this time and can't wait to see where that goes.
Kizzy is back in town but apparently not everybody is glad to see her. I liked the whole bad girl returns to town after a long hiatus, theme Swanson has going on. Readers are instantly trying to figure out what she did. Why she left. And most importantly, why she came back? There were questions on top of questions but Swanson did a good job of keeping her writing on point. The suspects start to mount and things really get out of hand, but I loved every minute of the chaos.
Bottom Line:
If you haven't tried Denise Swanson's writing, what in the world are you waiting for? Swanson's unique style and flippant sense of humor give this book and the others in the series, a refreshing and lightness that isn't often found in the genre. I like a little romance with my mysteries and I got that too, with this one. There's a lot to like for many different kinds of readers. Swanson does a great job with her latest offering!
March 4, 2015
I just couldn't resist picking up this book. Judging by the catchy title, Dying for A Cupcake was just what this cupcake murder mystery lover wanted to read. Kizzy Cutler is a "cupcake queen" a celebrity gourmet cupcake queen, she has after many years of being away from her hometown of Shadow Bend, Missouri. She is back for a cupcake competition to kick off her latest line of cupakes and is welcomed back to town with open arms and many sweet tooths.
Just when things are going well for the "Cupcake Queen" her assistant, Fallon is discovered murdered under mysterious circumstances. The self assured cupcake queen pushes on, undeterred by Fallon's murder. Soon it is clear as day that Kizzy is this killers true target.
Dev is the proprietor of Deveraux's Dime store and agrees to have some of the what the business owners and friends of Deb's dub "The Cupcake Weekend" events there. After a near hit and run and then a attempt on Kizzy's life and arson at Dev's Dime Store, it seems that someone has it in for "The Cupcake Queen". Dev then decides to try to help the police along in finding someone who has already murdered. Then suspects start to surface and as Dev checks them all out she quickly discovers someone who felt it was their duty to kill Kizzy and even the score.
This was the first book I read in this series and I know I chose the best one. This a winner for cupcake lovers. Dev is a character that felt like a little reflection of me. Even by the picture on the cover I thought somewhat looked like me. With her complicated love life, a little romance and sometimes indecisiveness about men. Very engaging and top notch fast paced writing. I could easily picture myself in this small town as I was reading. I was so eager to find out who the cupcake culprit was and had a inkling of sympathy for the killer as the person was revealed.
Just when things are going well for the "Cupcake Queen" her assistant, Fallon is discovered murdered under mysterious circumstances. The self assured cupcake queen pushes on, undeterred by Fallon's murder. Soon it is clear as day that Kizzy is this killers true target.
Dev is the proprietor of Deveraux's Dime store and agrees to have some of the what the business owners and friends of Deb's dub "The Cupcake Weekend" events there. After a near hit and run and then a attempt on Kizzy's life and arson at Dev's Dime Store, it seems that someone has it in for "The Cupcake Queen". Dev then decides to try to help the police along in finding someone who has already murdered. Then suspects start to surface and as Dev checks them all out she quickly discovers someone who felt it was their duty to kill Kizzy and even the score.
This was the first book I read in this series and I know I chose the best one. This a winner for cupcake lovers. Dev is a character that felt like a little reflection of me. Even by the picture on the cover I thought somewhat looked like me. With her complicated love life, a little romance and sometimes indecisiveness about men. Very engaging and top notch fast paced writing. I could easily picture myself in this small town as I was reading. I was so eager to find out who the cupcake culprit was and had a inkling of sympathy for the killer as the person was revealed.
March 30, 2015
Dying for a Cupcake is the fourth book in the A Devereaux's Dime Store Mystery series.
A cupcake bake-off is coming to Shadow Bend to introduce the line of cupcakes of Kizzy Cutler. Kizzy grew up in Shadow Bend and was not, for the most part, really liked. But Dev is willing to put the past behind her and have a successful competition and introduction at her Five and Dime store.
But before anything really gets started, Kizzy assistant, Fallon, dies. It is determined that she was poisoned and it not clear as the who or why she was murdered. Later, as Dev and Kizzy are walking to their cars an out of control driver heads directly for them, at the last second Dev is able to push Kizzy out of the way.
Dev, having her ears tuned into conversations of the attendees, she beginning to suspect that Kizzy is the target, but who is what she has to learn. There seems to discord among the contestants, plus there some friends from her high school days that aren't happy to see her back in town and being successful.
Dev desperately misses having Jake and Noah, her boyfriends, around. For the obvious reason of course, but also that they are always there for her to bounce the things that she has uncovered in her sleuthing. Shadow Bend has recently hired a new “hunky” fire chief and he kindly agrees to help with Dev's sleuthing. Will Dev be going for a three-fer.
A very enjoyable series with very interesting stories and characters. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
A cupcake bake-off is coming to Shadow Bend to introduce the line of cupcakes of Kizzy Cutler. Kizzy grew up in Shadow Bend and was not, for the most part, really liked. But Dev is willing to put the past behind her and have a successful competition and introduction at her Five and Dime store.
But before anything really gets started, Kizzy assistant, Fallon, dies. It is determined that she was poisoned and it not clear as the who or why she was murdered. Later, as Dev and Kizzy are walking to their cars an out of control driver heads directly for them, at the last second Dev is able to push Kizzy out of the way.
Dev, having her ears tuned into conversations of the attendees, she beginning to suspect that Kizzy is the target, but who is what she has to learn. There seems to discord among the contestants, plus there some friends from her high school days that aren't happy to see her back in town and being successful.
Dev desperately misses having Jake and Noah, her boyfriends, around. For the obvious reason of course, but also that they are always there for her to bounce the things that she has uncovered in her sleuthing. Shadow Bend has recently hired a new “hunky” fire chief and he kindly agrees to help with Dev's sleuthing. Will Dev be going for a three-fer.
A very enjoyable series with very interesting stories and characters. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
March 23, 2015
Head on over to Shadow Bend and catch up with Dev and her friends. They are busy preparing for the cupcake contest that is soon to take place. When Fallon, Kizzy's assistant is killed, it brings the preperations come to a stop. Kizzy is determined to win and doesn't want the death to put a hold on the events and that makes the others think she has something to do with it.
Dev and her friends have to do what they can to find out who killed Fallon and stop them before they strike again so the cupcake contest can resume.
This delicious whodunit will be hard to put down. You will be hooked by the story line and the characters are so likable. I am eager to visit again and look forward to the next one.
Dev and her friends have to do what they can to find out who killed Fallon and stop them before they strike again so the cupcake contest can resume.
This delicious whodunit will be hard to put down. You will be hooked by the story line and the characters are so likable. I am eager to visit again and look forward to the next one.
March 20, 2015
Dying for a Cupcake by Denise Swanson is the 4th book in a Devereaux Dime Store Mystery series. Cupcake queen Kizzy Cutler returns to Shadow Bend to host a cupcake baking competition. Unfortunately her assistant is poisoned and Kizzy becomes targeted by a killer. It is up to Devereaux and her friends to stop the killer before the competition is ruined. I loved this addition to the series and it was fun catching up with the characters. Dev's love triangle has now had another addition and has become even more complicated. Luckily she is better at solving crimes than she is with handling the men in her life. Too many unresolved issues stopped me from giving it 5 stars.
March 8, 2015
I have loved all the Devereaux's Dime Store Mysteries. But Dying for a Cupcake is my favorite. I enjoyed the storyline and with the new Fire Chief in town, I'm sure things will be heating up. I had absolutely no idea who the killer was until the end. It certainly wasn't who I thought it was. Absolutely recommend this series!
May 9, 2015
I love Denise Swanson's other series but this was is adequate at best. There are just too many background characters that bog the story down with unfinished threads and the mystery itself was quite boring.
Sorry but I will stick with her Scumble River stories and give the rest of this series, if there is any more, a pass.
Sorry but I will stick with her Scumble River stories and give the rest of this series, if there is any more, a pass.
April 7, 2017
One of the worst book I have ever read. These books where the 'heroine' is dating two men (like Hannah Swenson series) is getting tiresome as they treat both men like dirt. Dev comes across as an extremely selfish person.
April 30, 2015
A high 2 stars, not quite 3. Not a bad read really, but I had just finished 2 excellent cozies.
April 15, 2015
Loved! This is a great cozy series!
October 21, 2016
Couldn't get past the first chapter. NOT a book for my liking.
November 17, 2023
Typical cozy. Requires suspension of disbelief. Introducing a 3rd love interest was not good. The author spent a long time depicting Dev as an overweight, frumpy woman who wears sloppy clothes, no make up and rarely fixes her hair. Yet two times extremely handsome men have fallen in love after just a glimpse of her. That doesn’t make sense. Maybe if they’d gotten to know her, but after just a glimpse? Nah, I’m not buying it. Also, I hate hate hate with a passion (!!) when authors have characters audibly moan over simple food things (the smell of pizza? a bite of brownie?) it’s cringey! Aldo, we know she drives a z4, we don’t have to be told ever time she gets in the car that it’s a z4. So yeah, overall not a bad book, but obviously there were several things that really annoyed me.
July 27, 2022
A former resident has made to the big time, running a gourmet cupcake business. To introduce a new line of cupcakes she has decided to hold the finals of her latest bake-off contest in Shadow Bend.
One of the assistants is murder by some strange toxin and Dev must figured out who the killer is and more importantly why. Checking out everyone’s alibis leads to a look at their pasts and the startling discovery of a death 20 years prior that was hushed up.
Could this past death be the answer to what happened now?
One of the assistants is murder by some strange toxin and Dev must figured out who the killer is and more importantly why. Checking out everyone’s alibis leads to a look at their pasts and the startling discovery of a death 20 years prior that was hushed up.
Could this past death be the answer to what happened now?
July 15, 2023
I love Denise Swanson books. This was my first time reading one in the Devereaux Dime Store series.
Kizzy Cutler returns to her hometown for a cupcake competition. Her assistant is murdered and Kizzy has several near misses making Dev believe someone is out to harm her so she starts investigating. Turns out that Kizzy tormented Marla during school and stole her cupcake recipe which ended up having Marla kill herself. Marla's stepsister Gwen was the murderer as she was seeking revenge
Kizzy Cutler returns to her hometown for a cupcake competition. Her assistant is murdered and Kizzy has several near misses making Dev believe someone is out to harm her so she starts investigating. Turns out that Kizzy tormented Marla during school and stole her cupcake recipe which ended up having Marla kill herself. Marla's stepsister Gwen was the murderer as she was seeking revenge
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2020
Dev hosts a cupcake bake off at her store of course murder and mayhem follow. I didn't fall into this book as quickly as the others since we didn't know the "main" character and victim. I am finding Dev to be a bit of a hooch. Who lets someone they just met literally feed them? You already have 2 guys on the line leave the third alone.
August 4, 2021
What, no recipes?
Interesting mystery with an appropriate number of twists and turns, although the whirlwind elimination rounds of suspects at the end could have been distributed over a longer period. No surprise that the target of assassination attempts had been a mean girl in high school, since she still is, but it was disappointing that so many characters were motivated by financial gain.
Interesting mystery with an appropriate number of twists and turns, although the whirlwind elimination rounds of suspects at the end could have been distributed over a longer period. No surprise that the target of assassination attempts had been a mean girl in high school, since she still is, but it was disappointing that so many characters were motivated by financial gain.
October 5, 2017
Absolutely love this series. I've been reading them nonstop and I can't wait to dive into the next one. The characters are wonderful and the murders are so fun/silly that these have me begging for more.
December 28, 2017
I do like that this series is focusing more on the mysteries now and less on the romance aspect although the introduction of a third guy into the mix doesn't make the decision any more settled for Dev.
July 16, 2019
It wasn't terribly intriguing, the love lines left you hanging and with little interest, and the characters a little bland. It was easy to put down and pick back up days later and not be lost while still being good entertainment without worrying about any kind of rough content.
September 3, 2017
A guilty pleasure
November 15, 2017
Denise Swanson writes a hell of a mystery!!!!! Love Dev and friends and can picture the dime store in my mind every time something is mentioned about it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews